Method and apparatus for varying potential results between plays in a bingo gaming system

ABSTRACT

A method includes receiving a first game play request at a bingo player station when the bingo player station is in a first game state and assigning a result for the first game play request according to a first pattern table. The first game state corresponds to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, and the first pattern table includes a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols. The method further includes placing the bingo player station in a second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the first game play request. The second game state corresponds to a second result indicator state that is graphically different from the first result indicator state. With the bingo player station in the second game state, the method further includes receiving a second game play request at the bingo player station and assigning a result for the second game play request according to a second pattern table. The second pattern table includes a number of second result levels with each such result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more second result symbols. However, the second pattern table may be distinct from the first pattern table such as in terms of the content of the pattern table for example. Ultimately, the bingo player station is returned from the second game state to the first game state in response to some reset event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The Applicants claim the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/865,815 filed Nov. 14, 2006, and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VARYING POTENTIAL RESULTS BETWEEN PLAYS IN A BINGO GAMING SYSTEM.” The entire content of this provisional application is incorporated herein by this reference.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all rights of copyright.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bingo gaming systems and to gaming machines used to present bingo game results. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for presenting bingo game results to a player through a bingo player station so that the potential result for a given play may be varied to accommodate various types of result presentations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large number of different gaming machines have been developed to provide various formats and graphic presentations for conducting games and presenting game results. For example, numerous mechanical reel-type gaming machines, also known as slot machines, have been developed with different reel configurations, reel symbols, and paylines. The arrangement of symbols that may be displayed through an arrangement of mechanical reels in these mechanical reel-type gaming machines represents a game graphic that may be used to display results to the player. More recently, gaming machines have been developed with video monitors that are used to produce simulations of mechanical spinning reels. These video-based gaming machines may use one or more video monitors to provide a wide variety of graphic effects in addition to simulated spinning reels, and may also provide secondary/bonus games using different reel arrangements or entirely different graphics. Video-based gaming machines may also be used to show card games or various types of competitions such as simulated races in which wagers may be placed. The symbols in a reel-type game simulation and/or other graphics produced by the video displays of video-based gaming machines also represent game graphics that may be used to display results to the player. Game manufacturers are continuously pressed to develop new game formats and game graphics in an attempt to provide high entertainment value for players and thereby attract and keep players.

Both mechanical reel gaming machines and video-based gaming machines may be used to present a bingo game result to a player who has initiated a play in a bingo game. When used in the conduct of bingo games, these gaming machines may be referred to as “bingo player stations.” A bingo player at one of these bingo player stations may initiate a play in a bingo game by initiating a game play request using a player input arrangement associated with the particular bingo player station. The play in the bingo game which is initiated by the game play request includes matching a bingo card or a data representation of a bingo card with bingo designations drawn or otherwise generated for the bingo game to produce a pattern of matched bingo card locations. This pattern of matched bingo card locations correlates to a result for the game play and game play request which initiated the play, and this result is displayed at the bingo player station through some game graphic generated by the result display arrangement associated with the bingo player station. For example, where the bingo player station is a mechanical reel device, the mechanical reel(s) provide the result display arrangement and the various results in the bingo game may be correlated to various sets of reel symbols. Continuing with this example, a straight line pattern may be defined as a winning result in the underlying bingo game, and this winning result may be displayed through the mechanical reel display as a game graphic made up of some number of a particular symbol aligned along a payline defined through the various reel symbol locations visible when two or more reels are caused to stop spinning. Alternatively, the stop position of a single mechanical reel may be used to represent a result in the underlying bingo game. A video-based reel-type game may present a bingo game result in a similar fashion. A video-based gaming machine may also serve as a bingo player station by showing a bingo result as a result in a card game. For example, a straight line bingo pattern achieved in the underlying bingo game may be displayed to the player as a game graphic comprising a representation of a poker hand of three of a kind or some other hand value.

U.S. patent application publication No. 2004-0048647-A1 discloses an arrangement for mapping various result levels to various sets of bingo patterns to produce a desired prize distribution for a bingo game. This arrangement allows bingo probabilities, that is, the probabilities associated with achieving various bingo patterns in a bingo game, to be used to produce a prize distribution that is, for example, characteristic of a standard mechanical or video-based reel-type game. Thus, applying bingo pattern mapping as disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2004-0048647-A1, allows the play of bingo at a bingo player station to imitate the play of a traditional gaming machine in which the results are determined in some random fashion to produce a target prize distribution.

It is known in traditional gaming machines to modify the prize distribution for a given game in order to make the game more exciting for the player. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,538 to Weiss discloses a traditional reel-type gaming machine which can be modified in the course of play to change the likelihood of hitting a winning combination of reel symbols on a given play. However, the Weiss patent relates to traditional reel-type gaming machines and does not disclose any arrangement for presenting results from bingo games or modifying the likelihood of any given result that may be presented at a bingo player station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a highly entertaining method of presenting bingo game results. The entertainment value is achieved by using two or more different game states, with each game state associated with its own unique characteristics of play in terms of the various prizes available for a given play in the game and/or in terms of the probabilities of obtaining the various results available for the given play. In addition to a method of presenting results in bingo games, the present invention also encompasses both gaming apparatus and program products for implementing methods according to the invention.

A method embodying principles of the invention may be implemented in a bingo player station using one or more display devices such as CRTs, LCDs, plasma displays, or other types of display devices. The display device or devices are used to show graphic elements according to the invention. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented with a bingo player station that includes an arrangement of one or more mechanical reels to show the various graphic elements. As used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims, a bingo player station through which the present invention may be implemented will be referred to generally as a bingo player station regardless of the nature of the display arrangement used in the device to show results to the bingo player. Also, the graphic elements (text, numbers, and artwork) used to present a result to a player at a player station, including tangential graphic elements related to the result presenting graphics, will be referred to in this disclosure collectively as a “game graphic” regardless of whether individual graphic elements in the total presentation are presented by mechanical devices such as mechanical reels, video devices, static displays, or combinations of these devices.

A method embodying one form of the present invention includes receiving a first game play request at a bingo player station when the bingo player station is in a first game state and assigning a result for the first game play request according to a first pattern table. The first game state corresponds to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, and the first pattern table includes a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols. The method further includes placing the bingo player station in a second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the first game play request. As with the first game state, the second game state corresponds to a particular result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station. This particular result indicator state corresponding to the second game state may be referred to as a second result indicator state and is graphically different from the first result indicator state. With the bingo player station in the second game state, the method further includes receiving a second game play request at the bingo player station and assigning a result for the second game play request according to a second pattern table. Similarly to the first pattern table, the second pattern table includes a number of result levels (second result levels) with each such result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more second result symbols. However, the second pattern table may be distinct from the first pattern table in terms of the content of the pattern table. Ultimately, the bingo player station may be returned from the second game state to the first game state in response to some reset event.

This method in which results for plays in an underlying bingo game are assigned according to different pattern tables which are each associated with a respective game state displayed by the bingo player station enables various types of game features and bonus games to be presented to the player at the bingo player station. The various game features and bonus games may be displayed concurrently with a base game or otherwise. These advantages facilitated by the invention will be described in the context of specific examples below.

Various definitions will be helpful in understanding the present invention. As used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims, a particular “result indicator state” is some graphic element or arrangement of graphic elements (which may or may not include text or numbers) that indicates a result or an aspect of a result that is potentially available for a given play in a game while the bingo player station is in the corresponding game state. For example, a result indicator state may include a graphic display element indicating that any win in the next play is subject to a multiplier or that a bonus amount will be added to the result in the next play at the bingo player station. As another example, a result indicator state may include a graphic display element or set of elements indicating that a particular event in the next play of the game may entitle the player to a win multiplier or bonus value. Such a graphic display element may appear as a bonus game that is played concurrently with a base game.

The designation “pattern table” as used in this disclosure and accompanying claims refers to any data table, set of data tables, or any other arrangement of data that provides the correlations between the various result levels available for a given play in the bingo game, the various patterns that may be achieved in the bingo game, the various result symbols (e.g. reel stop symbols in a reel-type game, or playing card face representations in a playing card-type game) that may be used to display an assigned result to the player, and the various prizes that may be available for the given play in the bingo game. The designation “an aspect of a result” will be used in this disclosure and accompanying claims to refer to a characteristic of a result (or the graphic used to display the result to the player) that may be detected by the bingo gaming apparatus. The result level associated with the result, one or more symbols used to display the result (such as reel symbols in a reel-type game or playing card faces in a playing card-type game), or a relative order of symbols used to display the result, each represent an “aspect of a result” as used in this disclosure and accompanying claims, as does some combination of two or more of these characteristics.

Although methods according to the invention may include only two different game states, there is no limit to the number of game states that may be employed in a given implementation of the invention. For example, a given implementation of the invention may move the player through several different game states over a series of game play requests at a bingo player station until the player becomes eligible for some increased prize. This technique of moving through multiple game states builds excitement as the player continues play and approaches a desirable game state in which higher or more prizes may be available.

In addition to methods, the present invention also includes both gaming apparatus and program products. One bingo gaming apparatus according to the invention includes a display device, a player input device, and a presentation controller. The display device and player input device are both associated with a bingo player station through which a player may initiate game play requests in a bingo gaming system. The display device may include a single video monitor, multiple video monitors, one or more sets of mechanical reels, or a combination of mechanical reels and one or more video monitors. The presentation controller may be implemented through a processing device at the bingo player station or remote from the bingo player station, or through multiple processing devices at a single location or distributed over a network. The presentation controller functions to apply the first pattern table described above to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player station is in the first game state, and to apply the second pattern table described above to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player station is in the second game state. The presentation controller also switches the bingo player station between game states in the method described above and directs the display device to produce a respective result representation for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device. The result representation graphically shows the player the result that has been assigned for the respective game play request.

A program product according to the invention may include first game state program code, second game state program code, and game state control program code. The first game state program code is executable to cause a bingo player station to operate in the first game state as described above in connection with the exemplary method, while the second game state program code is executable to cause the bingo player station to operate in the second game state as described above. The game state control program code is executable to cause the bingo player station to switch between game states, and particularly from the first game state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of a respective result assigned while the bingo player station is operating in the first game state.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bingo player station that may be used to present bingo gaming results to a bingo player according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a bingo player station and bingo gaming system that may be used to implement methods according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a representation of a first pattern table that may be employed in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a representation of a second pattern table that may be employed in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a representation of a highly simplified game graphic in an example first game state.

FIG. 7 is a representation similar to FIG. 6 but showing the game graphic in an example second game state.

FIG. 8 is a representation similar to FIG. 7 but showing a result for a game play request entered while the bingo player station was in the second game state.

FIG. 9 is a representation similar to FIG. 8 but showing an alternate result for a game play request entered while the bingo player station was in the second game state.

FIG. 10 is a representation of a portion of a game graphic that may be generated at a bingo player station to show several different game states in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a representation of a game graphic that may be generated at a bingo player station to show several different game states in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a representation of a game graphic that may be generated at a bingo player station to show several different game states in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a representation of a portion of a game graphic that may be generated at a bingo player station to show several different game states in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a representation of a game graphic that may be displayed at a bingo player station to show several different game states in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The claims at the end of this document set out novel features which the Applicants believe are characteristic of the invention. The various advantages and features of the invention together with preferred modes of use of the invention will best be understood by reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments read in conjunction with the drawings introduced above.

FIG. 1 shows a bingo player station 100 that may be used to present bingo game results according to the present invention. The block diagram of FIG. 2 shows further details of bingo player station 100 connected in a gaming system in which the present invention may be used to present gaming results to players.

Referring to FIG. 1, a bingo player station 100 includes a cabinet 101 having a front side generally shown at reference numeral 102. A video display device 104 is mounted in a central portion of the front surface 102, with a ledge 106 positioned below the video display device and projecting forwardly from the plane of the video display device. In addition to the video display device 104, the illustrated bingo player station includes a top glass display 107 positioned above the video display device. Video display device 104 may be used to produce the graphic components and display a result for a given game play request initiated through bingo player station 100. For example, video display 104 may be used to show a reel-type graphic display such as that shown in FIG. 6, in which the result assigned for each game play request is shown at least partially as a particular combination of reel symbols aligned along a payline. Video display 104 may also be used to show various result indicator states according to the present invention as will be described below in connection with various embodiments of the invention, particularly the simplified example shown in FIGS. 6-9. Top glass display 107 may be a static display used to show static graphics related to the result displaying portion of the game graphic. For example, top glass display 107 may show a paytable which relates various combinations of reel symbols to prizes in the game as is known in the art.

Bingo player station 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, includes mechanical player control buttons or other input devices 109 mounted on ledge 106. Other forms of the invention may include switches, joysticks, or other player input devices mounted on ledge 106.

Bingo player station 100 also includes additional player interface devices 110. These additional player interface devices 110 may comprise for example, a player card reader, a voucher or ticket reader/issuer, a currency acceptor/validator, and/or a coin or token acceptor/dispenser.

It should be noted that the present invention is by no means limited to implementation with a bingo player station having a single video display such as bingo player station 100 shown in FIG. 1. A bingo player station that may be used to implement embodiments of the present invention may be any player station that includes a player interface for enabling a player to make direct inputs, and one or more video display devices, physical reels, or other mechanical arrangements through which the result displaying symbols and result indicator states may be displayed. Bingo player station 100 is merely shown as an example of a bingo player station through which the invention may be implemented. Other bingo player stations implementing the present invention may include other types of result displaying devices that may show bingo game play results. For example, rather than employing video generated representations of spinnable reels, a bingo player station may include one or more mechanical spinnable reels to show results. Yet other bingo player stations implementing embodiments of the present invention may include a mechanical spinnable wheel similar to a roulette wheel for example. Other bingo player stations for implementing embodiments of the present invention may include a combination of video displays and spinnable mechanical devices. For example, a bingo player station may include a set of mechanical reels in place of video display 104 in example player station 100, and a video monitor in the position of top glass display 107. It should also be noted that the video display device 104 used in bingo player station 100, or some other bingo player station implementing the invention, may comprise any suitable video display device including a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, plasma display, LED display or any other type of video display currently known or that may be developed in the future.

FIG. 2 provides a block diagram showing various components of bingo player station 100 together with gaming system components external to the bingo player station. In particular, FIG. 2 shows bingo player station 100 connected for communication with a local area server 200 and a central server 201. Local area server 200 and central server 201 may be used together with bingo player station 100 and other bingo player stations to implement a bingo gaming system, such as the bingo gaming system described in U.S. patent application publication No. 2004-0152499-A1. Local area server 200 and central server 201, or both servers, may cooperate to identify results that are provided to bingo player station 100 for a bingo game play that occurs in response to a bingo game play request entered at the bingo player station. That is, local area server 200 and/or central server 201, or more particularly, one or more processing devices associated with server 200 and/or server 201 may serve as a result controller for identifying bingo patterns achieved for a particular play in a bingo game (that is, a particular bingo game play). Local area server 200 and/or central server 201 may also be used to provide player tracking and accounting services for the bingo player stations included in the gaming system.

The bingo player station 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 205 along with random access memory 206, and nonvolatile memory or storage device 207. All of these devices are connected on a system bus 208 with an audio interface device 209, communications interface 210, and a serial interface 211. A graphics processor 215 is also connected on bus 208 and is connected to drive the video display device 104 (mounted on cabinet 101 as shown in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, bingo player station 100 also includes a touch screen controller 217 connected to system bus 208. Touch screen controller 217 is also connected to receive signals from a touch screen element associated with video display device 104. It will be appreciated that the touch screen element itself comprises a thin film that is secured over the display surface of video display device 104. The touch screen element itself is not illustrated or referenced separately in the figures although the connection between the touch screen element and touch screen controller 217 is shown generally by line 218.

Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that other basic components will be included in bingo player station 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the various system components, audio amplifiers and speakers, and other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail.

All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in FIG. 2 are elements commonly associated with a personal computer. These elements may be mounted on a standard personal computer chassis and housed in a standard personal computer housing which is itself mounted in cabinet 101 shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the various electronic components may be mounted on one or more circuit boards housed within cabinet 101 without a separate enclosure such as those found in personal computers. Those familiar with data processing systems and the various data processing elements shown in FIG. 2 will appreciate that many variations on this illustrated structure may be used within the scope of the present invention. For example, since serial communications are commonly employed between a main processing device for a computer system and a touch screen controller, a system according to the invention may include a touch screen controller that communicates with the system through serial interface 211. The serial interface 211 may be any suitable peripheral interface such as a USB controller or a IEEE 1394 controller. It will also be apparent to those familiar with personal computers that the various components shown in FIG. 2 may not be connected directly to system bus 208 as indicated in the figure. Rather, any of the devices shown in FIG. 2 may be connected directly to an intermediate bus which is connected to the system bus 208 through a suitable controller. For example, non-volatile memory/storage device 207 may be connected via a serial ATA controller, and audio interface 209 may be connected through a suitable expansion bus and expansion bus controller such as a PCI bus and PCI bus controller. Numerous other variations in the bingo player station internal structure and system may be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

It will also be appreciated that although separate graphics processor 215 is shown for controlling video display device 104, CPU 205 may control the video display device directly without any intermediate graphics processor. The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of graphics processors for controlling the video display device or devices that may be included in the bingo player station.

In the illustrated bingo player station 100, CPU 205 executes software to ultimately control the entire bingo player station including the receipt of player inputs through input devices 109 shown in FIG. 1. Software executed at CPU 205 causes the CPU to control the presentation of graphics displayed through video display device 104, albeit indirectly through graphics processor 215. Thus, CPU 205, either alone or in cooperation with one or more other processing devices serves as the presentation controller according to the invention. Where the bingo player station itself identifies bingo patterns for plays initiated at the bingo player station, CPU 205 also serves as a result controller, although pattern identification will commonly be performed at a more centralized processing device such as local area server 200 or central server 201 in a bingo gaming system. CPU 205 may also execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play. Communications interface 210 provides an interface to other components of a gaming system that may be involved in game play, such as local area server 200 and/or central server 201. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device 207 provides storage for programs not in use or for other data generated or used in the course of operating bingo player station 100.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to bingo player stations employing the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example bingo player station 100. Other bingo player stations may include one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing steps for implementing the present invention. Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205, these special purpose processing devices may not employ operational program code to direct the various processing steps.

FIG. 3 comprises a process flow chart showing the operation of a bingo player station according to one form of the present invention. The bingo player station may be of the type shown as bingo player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2 for example. The process shown in FIG. 3 includes an initialization step at process block 301, which includes displaying a first result indicator state at the player station. As will be discussed further below, this first result indicator state corresponds to the first game state at the bingo player station. After initialization, the process shown in FIG. 3 continues with the bingo player station operating in a first game state to present a bingo result to the player. This bingo player station operation in the first game state includes the two steps shown in dashed box 302. In particular, a game play request is received at the bingo player station in the first game state as indicated at process block 303, and a result is assigned for the game play request and ultimately displayed to the player as indicated at process block 304. If a game state change is not indicated by some aspect of the result assigned at process block 304, then the process returns to a point above process block 303 and the bingo player station continues to operate in the first game state for the next game play request that may be entered. However, if a game state change is indicated as shown by a positive result at decision block 306, the game state at the bingo player station switches from the first game state to the second game state as shown at process block 308. This switch from the first game state to the second game state includes changing the graphics displayed by the bingo player station to display a second result indicator state corresponding to the second game state. The bingo player station then begins operating in the second game state by performing steps including those shown in dashed box 309. In particular, a game play request is received at the bingo player station in the second game state as indicated at process block 310, and a result is assigned for the game play request and displayed to the player as indicated at process block 311. The process proceeds to identify whether a game state reset event has occurred as shown at decision block 312. If a game state reset event has not occurred, then the bingo player station continues to operate in the second game state, or, if a game state reset event has occurred, the game state switches back to the first game state and the first result indicator state is displayed at the bingo player station as indicated at process block 314.

The initialization step shown at process block 301 includes actions necessary to place the bingo player station in condition to operate in the first game state. The specific actions taken here will depend upon a number of factors unrelated to the present invention. For example, the accounting arrangement used by the bingo player station may require a player login prior to accepting a game play request. Where a login procedure is not required, the bingo player station typically will require a player to deposit currency or currency equivalent in order to provide a balance from which wagers can be made. Regardless of any other actions taken in this initialization shown at process block 301 in FIG. 3, the initialization will include displaying some graphic arrangement which represents the first result indicator state corresponding to the first game state. This first result indicator state may take a number of graphic forms within the scope of the present invention as will be apparent from the specific examples described below. To generalize from the specific examples described below, the first result indicator state comprises some graphical state displayed at the bingo player station which relates to the potential prizes that could be assigned for a game play request entered at the bingo player station when the player station is in the first game state. Thus the first result indicator state corresponds to the first game state and to the first pattern table from which results are assigned for the game play request while the player station is in the first game state. An example of a first result indicator state may be a deactivated multiplier symbol displayed by the bingo player station to indicate that the multiplier does not apply to any result that might be obtained for a game play request entered at the bingo player station. While it is possible within the scope of the present invention that a first result indicator state will indicate that some multiplier or bonus value might apply to a game play request entered at the bingo player station at that time, the lowest game state according to the present invention will typically not show that a multiplier or bonus value may be available for a play. Further aspects of the first result indicator state employed in the present invention will be apparent from the specific game examples described below.

The series of steps shown in dashed box 302 representing the operation of the bingo player station represent generally a single game cycle to present a bingo game result to the player. Such a single game cycle may be thought of as a play at the bingo player station in the sense that from the player's perspective, the player makes some input at the bingo player station and then sees a result displayed at the bingo player station. This “play at the bingo player station” is to be distinguished from the “play” in the underlying bingo game, which involves the actual matching of bingo game indicia and bingo card indicia to produce some pattern of matched card locations. The play in the underlying bingo game may in fact take place at some location remote from the bingo player station as will be described further below.

The game play request received at process block 303 will typically result from some player input made at the bingo player station. This player input may be made in any suitable fashion at the bingo player station and may include one or more separate inputs. For example, a particular bingo player station could require that a player make some input to select a bingo card to place in play, select a wager level, and actually place the selected bingo card in play. Additional daub inputs or result claiming inputs may also be required according to the rules of the particular bingo gaming system, although these daub and result claiming inputs may not represent a game play request, but only a requirement for having a result assigned for a given game play request. In any event, all of these inputs are made through a suitable input device or multiple devices at the bingo player station, such as one or more input devices 109 shown in FIG. 1 and/or a touch screen associated with a game display such as video display device 104 as discussed above in connection with FIG. 2. Other implementations of the invention employ a much more streamlined input procedure for entering a game play request. For example, a given bingo game play request may result from simply activating a “play” button included in player input devices such as input devices 109 in FIG. 1 and/or included in a touchscreen display.

Regardless of the manner in which a bingo game play request is received in a game cycle as indicated at process block 303 in FIG. 3, the game play request is ultimately associated with at least one bingo card or a data representation of such a card. The bingo card/card representation for a bingo game play request is then used for a bingo game play in which the designations included in the bingo card/card representation are matched to a series of bingo designations generated for the bingo game, and this matching may result in a pattern of matches for the bingo card/card representation. The pattern of matches achieved for a given bingo card/card representation and/or the manner in which the matches are made is used to identify a bingo result for the card and associated bingo game play request. In particular, various patterns of matched bingo card locations are correlated to various results in the bingo game through a pattern table such as one of the example pattern tables illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

For purposes of example only, pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to a first pattern table as described above, and is used to assign results while the bingo player station is operating in the first game state as indicated at process block 304 in FIG. 3. Pattern table 500 shown in FIG. 5 continues with this example and corresponds to a second pattern table as described above. Thus pattern table 500 is used to assign results while the bingo player station is operating in the second game state as indicated at process block 311 in FIG. 3. It should be noted at the outset of this description of pattern tables 400 and 500 that these tables are entirely fictitious in that they do not correspond to an actual game. These pattern tables are in fact highly simplified in order to simplify the discussion and more clearly disclose the invention. In particular, the number of result levels shown in pattern table 400 and in pattern table 500 are greatly reduced as compared to a typical pattern table applicable to an actual game.

Pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes eight result levels, levels 0 through 7 in first column 401 labeled “Result Level.” Each result level is correlated to one or more matched bingo card patterns indicated in the second column 402, one or more result symbol sets shown in column 403, and a result value shown in column 404. In example pattern table 400, patterns are represented by the labels P1 through P11, result symbol sets are represented by the labels S1 through S10, and result values are represented by the labels V0 through V7. Each pattern P1 through P11 comprises a definition of a pattern of matched bingo card locations that may be achieved in the bingo game. For example, the bingo card may comprise a 5×5 grid of card locations and pattern P10 may be defined as the first column of five locations in the 5×5 grid, while pattern P11 may be defined as the last column of five locations in the 5×5 grid. It should also be noted that a pattern may be defined not only in terms of matched bingo card locations but also in terms of the manner in which matches are made. For example, a pattern may be defined as three matched bingo card locations where the location with the highest valued bingo designation is matched first relative to the other two matched card locations. The present invention is not limited by the way in which a bingo pattern may be defined.

Each of result levels 5, 6, and 7 of pattern table 400 is correlated to multiple result symbol sets. In particular, result level 5 correlates to both the result symbol set labeled S6 and the result symbol set labeled S7. Thus, more than one result symbol set may be used to communicate to the player a result at result level 5. The same can be said for result level 6, which is correlated to the result symbol sets labeled S8, S9, and S10. The invention is not limited to any particular number of result symbol sets at a given result level. Each result level may be correlated to a single result symbol set, or some or all result levels may be correlated to multiple alternative result symbol sets for indicating a result at that result level for a given play in the bingo game. In any case, each symbol set preferably correlates to a specific combination of graphic symbols or other elements that indicate a result to a player according to the rules applicable to the given game graphic. For example, the symbol set S3 in pattern table 400 may, for a given reel-type game graphic employing a given pay table, correspond to a series of some reel symbol lined up along a payline defined in the reel-type game graphic. At result level 7 in FIG. 4, the pattern set labeled “Others” refers to all other patterns not included in one of the other patterns sets, and the result symbol set field labeled “Others” refers to result symbol sets other than those correlated to another result level. Typically, the result level in a pattern table corresponding to result level 7 shown in FIG. 4 correlates to a result value of zero, that is, a loss for the bingo game play.

In one preferred form of operation according to the invention, a result controller either located at the bingo player station (such as bingo player station 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) or located at a local area server or central server (such as servers 200 and 201, respectively, in FIG. 2), identifies the matched pattern associated with a bingo card for a given bingo game play. The result controller communicates the identified pattern to a presentation controller in some suitable form. For example, the identified pattern may be communicated in the form of a code representing the identified pattern. The presentation controller applies the first pattern table (such as pattern table 400) to assign a result for the identified pattern and this result represents the result for the bingo game play initiated through the bingo player station while the player station is operating in the first game state.

Although the pattern table may be applied in a number of fashions to assign the result, one preferred presentation controller queries the pattern table to identify the result level correlated to the identified pattern, and then reads the result value associated with that result level. The presentation controller also identifies a result symbol set associated with that result level so that the display device associated with the bingo player station may be controlled to show a proper graphic to display the result to the player. This display of the result to the player will be described further below in connection with the example game graphic shown in FIGS. 6-9. One preferred process for identifying a result symbol set associated with a given result level includes reading a code or other identifier for a result symbol set correlated to the given result level in some suitable fashion. The result symbol set labels shown in example pattern table 400 may represent suitable identifiers for example. Regardless of the form of the identifier or how it is associated with the result level, the identifier may point to stored data which defines a given result symbol set graphic. The stored data may be processed or otherwise used to cause a display device to generate the desired result symbol set graphic. For example, and with reference to the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, video display device 104 may be directed by CPU 205 and graphics processor 215 to generate the desired result symbol set graphic. As an alternative example, a mechanical reel display device may be controlled by a suitable reel position controller (which may also include a processor similar to CPU 205) to cause the reels to stop in the appropriate orientation to show the desired symbol or symbols representing the particular result symbol set.

Referring again to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, any suitable aspect of a result assigned at process block 304 may be employed to require a change in the game state of the bingo player station. The detection of a game state changing aspect of a result as indicated at decision block 306 may be performed in any suitable fashion. However, the specific actions required to perform the detection step indicated at decision block 306 will generally depend upon the nature of the result aspect which is taken as a game state changing aspect. For example, one preferred form of the invention may define a particular result level assigned for a game play request as a result aspect that dictates a change in game state. In this case, detecting whether a game state change should occur may include locating the result level in a game state file as will be described below and reading a game state value associated with that result level. Another form of the present invention may define the appearance of a special symbol anywhere on a reel-type display as a result aspect that dictates a change in game state. In this case, the detection step required for decision block 306 must be capable of detecting the presence of the special symbol. One arrangement for detecting the presence of the special symbol evaluates the symbols at the various stop positions of the reel-type display. Alternatively, each result symbol set for a given result may define the symbols required at each reel stop position, and thus the presence of the special symbol will be apparent from the result symbol set. Different game state changing result aspects will be discussed further below in connection with specific implementations of the invention.

Regardless of the result aspect used to make the decision indicated at decision block 306 in FIG. 3, placing the bingo player station in a different game state at process block 308 may be performed in response to a game state change signal generated as appropriate for the particular event. For example, where a special symbol appearing on the array of a reel-type game represents the result aspect dictating a game state change, the bingo player station processor such as processor 205 in FIG. 2, or some other processing device such as local area server 200 or central server 201 includes a process that detects the presence of the special symbol and generates a game state change signal when the symbol is detected. This game state change signal, which may be a code or any other signal as appropriate to the processing device that generates the signal, is communicated as necessary to the component that serves as the presentation controller so that the presentation controller can place the particular bingo player station in the second game state. This change in states is accomplished by switching from the first pattern table to a second pattern table for use in assigning results for the bingo game play requests entered at the respective bingo player station.

The second result indicator state displayed at the bingo player station as indicated at process block 308 in FIG. 3 may comprise any suitable result indicator state according to the present invention. As discussed above in the summary section of this disclosure, preferred forms of the invention include a second result indicator state that appears to affect the result that may be awarded for a game play request received at the bingo player station when the player station is in the second game state. An example of this preferred form of the invention may include a second result indicator state that appears to provide a multiplier for another play in the game, or a number of free plays, or both. Various second result indicator states will be described further below in connection with specific game graphic examples.

The process of operating the bingo player station (such as bingo player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the second game state as indicated by the steps in dashed box 309 in FIG. 3 may be substantially the same as the operation described above in connection with dashed box 302. However, rather than employing the first pattern table (such as example table 400) to assign results for the respective bingo game play, the presentation controller employs the second pattern table (such as example table 500) to assign results when the player station is operating in the second game state.

The example second pattern table 500 shown in FIG. 5 is similar to first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4, but includes an additional result level, level 3A in the “Result Level” column 501. The reason for this additional result level will be described below in connection with the example game graphic shown in FIGS. 6-9. Each result level in second pattern table 500 is correlated to one or more matched bingo card patterns indicated in the second column 502, one or more result symbol sets shown in column 503, and a result value shown in column 504. It will be noted that for the result levels that second pattern table 500 shares with first pattern table 400, the result symbol sets in column 503 of FIG. 5 and the result values shown in column 504 correspond exactly to the corresponding result symbol sets and result values shown in columns 403 and 404 of FIG. 4. This correspondence of common result levels between different pattern tables is not necessary for the present invention, but may be required for certain embodiments of the present invention as will be apparent from the example game described below employing pattern tables 400 and 500 and the game graphic shown in FIGS. 6-9.

It will be noted that second pattern table 500 shown in FIG. 5 also employs some patterns in the “Pattern Set” column 502 which are also used in first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4. However, some of the result levels in second pattern table 500 include additional patterns. For example, the result level 4 in second pattern table 500 includes patterns P5, P6, and P1 whereas result level 4 in first pattern table 400 includes just patterns P5 and P6. The effect of including an additional pattern in result level 4 in second pattern table 500 is that the probability of a player achieving that result level is increased with respect to the probability under first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4. That is, if a player in the underlying bingo game achieves either pattern P5, P6, or P11 in the bingo game, the player will be awarded the prize associated with result level 4 when results are assigned according to second pattern table 500. Thus, the probability of obtaining result value V4 for a bingo game play initiated when the second game state is in effect is greater than the probability of obtaining result value V4 when the bingo player station is operated in the first game state. The probability of achieving any of the result levels may be increased or decreased by changing the patterns at each result level with respect to those patterns specified in the first pattern table 400. It will be noted that result level 5 is correlated to patterns P7, P8, and P15 in second pattern table 500, and is correlated to patterns P7, P8, and P9 in first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4. The substitution of patterns in this fashion may increase or decrease the probability of achieving that result level. It should also be noted that the change of patterns for one result level may affect the probability of achieving one or more patterns at another result level, and thus affect the overall probability of obtaining a result at another result level.

All of the variations described above in connection with events that require a game state change are also applicable to events that may produce a positive result at decision block 312 in FIG. 3 require the game state to be reset from the second game state to the first game state. In particular, some preferred forms of the present invention may define the assignment of a given prize level for a game play request as an event dictating that the bingo player station be reset to the first game state. Regardless of the specific event or series of events that may be chosen to serve as a game state reset event, an appropriate component at the bingo player station or elsewhere preferably generates a suitable reset game state signal and communicates that signal as necessary to the system component serving as the presentation controller. The presentation controller then responds to the reset game state signal by placing the bingo player station back in the first game state as indicated at process block 314 in FIG. 3. Placing the bingo player station back in the first game state includes causing the presentation controller to assign results again according to the first pattern table for further game play requests. Because the first game state is correlated to the first result indicator state, the player station is also directed to change graphics as necessary to cause the bingo player station to display the first result indicator state. As indicated by the process flow from process block 314 in FIG. 3 back to dashed box 302, the bingo player station may then be operated again in the first game state until another game state change is indicated.

The relationship between the respective pattern tables employed for different game states at a bingo player station and the respective result indicator state displayed at the bingo player station according to the invention may be described with the simplified examples of pattern tables 400 and 500 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, and with reference to the example game graphic 600 shown in FIGS. 6-9. It should be noted that game graphic 600 is highly simplified in order to eliminate display elements that are unnecessary for an understanding of the relationship between the pattern tables and result indicator states. Thus, game graphic 600 includes simply a reel-type graphic component 601 defining a single payline and a simple bonus indicator 602 generated on a suitable display device of a bingo player station 603. Reel-type graphic component 601 includes three video-generated reel representations 604, 605, and 606, each providing a respective reel symbol location 608, 609, and 610. These three reel symbol locations define a single payline such that a result for a given play in an underlying bingo game may be displayed to a player at the bingo player station 603 generating graphic display 600 by causing the reels to appear to stop to show a respective set of reel symbols correlated to a prize or other result through a pay table as is known in the art of reel-type gaming machines. Bonus indicator 602 in this simple example takes the form of a wheel 612 which is divided into alternating sections including sections 613 labeled “0” and sections 614 labeled “1.” A pointer 616 is included to point to a given section 613 or 614 once the wheel comes to rest after a spin about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

In order for the two example pattern tables 400 and 500 to apply to a game display employing game graphic 600, certain rules must be defined dictating how a result for a given bingo game play may be displayed with the game graphic. These rules are defined here only for purposes of providing a simple example of an application of the present invention. Implementations of the invention are by no means limited to these rules or the simple example of FIG. 6. The first rule to be assumed for this example is that in a first game state, bonus indicator 602 is inactive and a result for a given game play request received at the bingo player station 603 showing game graphic 600 is communicated to the player exclusively by the set of symbols that line up along the payline defined by locations 608, 609, and 610. The second rule for purposes of this example is that the display of one of the result symbol sets corresponding to result level 6 shown in pattern table 400 when the bingo player station is in the first game state is defined as the event that causes the bingo player station 603 to be placed in the second game state. The third rule for this example is that bonus indicator 602 is active when the bingo player station is in the second game state, and will start spinning along with the simulated reels 604, 605, and 606 when a game play request is received at bingo player station 603. Further according to the third rule, if the simulated reels 604, 605, and 606 stop showing the result symbol set defined as result symbol set S4 in pattern table 400 while bonus indicator 602 is active then the result for the play will either correspond to result value V3 from tables 400 and 500 if wheel 612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 613 on the wheel, or correspond to result value V3A if wheel 612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 614 on the wheel. Finally, the fourth rule is that after result level 3A in pattern table 500 is assigned for a game play request (and thus result value V3A is awarded for the game play request entered while bonus indicator 602 is active), the bingo player station is caused to return to the first game state in which bonus indicator 602 is not active and does not appear to affect any result displayed through simulated reels 604, 605, and 606.

With these game rules in mind, FIG. 6 shows game graphic 600 when the bingo player station 603 is in the first game state with bonus indicator 602 inactive. FIG. 7 shows game graphic 600 after result symbol set S10 (assumed to be three single bar symbols) is displayed at bingo player station 603 which has caused the bingo player station to be placed in the second game state with bonus indicator 602 active. The active state of bonus indicator 602 is indicated graphically at bingo player station 603 by the symbol “BINARY BONUS” flashing or otherwise displayed adjacent to wheel 612. FIG. 8 shows the alternative for a game play request entered while bingo player station 603 is in the second game state, in which the simulated reels stop to show the result symbol set defined by set S4 (assumed to be three 7 symbols), and wheel 612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 613. FIG. 9 shows the alternative for a game play request entered while bingo player station 603 is in the second game state and the simulated reels stop to show result symbol set S4 similarly to FIG. 8, but wheel 612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 614.

It should be noted here that each of the versions of game graphic 600 shown in FIGS. 6-9 is dictated by a result identified from a bingo game, particularly a respective pattern achieved for a respective play in the bingo game. The symbols shown at locations 608, 609, and 610 in FIG. 6 correspond to some result symbol set shown in column 403 of first pattern table 400. The position of wheel 612 is dictated by where the wheel came to rest the last time it was active, which was in turn dictated by a bingo pattern achieved in some previous play. The three “BAR” symbols shown in the example of FIG. 7 resulted from the player achieving for a play in the bingo game either pattern P 10 or P 11 in pattern table 400, which in turn resulted in one of result symbol set S8, S9, or S10 having been selected according to first pattern table 400. Thus for purposes of our example, the three “BAR” symbols shown in FIG. 7 correspond to result symbol set S8, S9, or S10. The three “7” symbols shown in the example of FIG. 8 and the stop position of wheel 612 pointing to “0” section 613, was dictated by the player achieving pattern P4 from second pattern table 500. This arrangement of three “7” symbols and the wheel stop position on a section 613 corresponds to result symbol set S11 in second pattern table 500. Finally, the three “7” symbols shown in the example of FIG. 9 and the stop position of wheel 612 pointing to “1” section 614, was dictated by the player achieving pattern P12 from second pattern table 500. This arrangement of three “7” symbols and the wheel stop position on a section 614 corresponds to result symbol set S12 in second pattern table 500.

It will be noted now that the additional result level 3A is required for second pattern table 500 (used when the bingo player station is in the second game state) because the game rules for this simple example game add one additional potential result that may be assigned for a game play request entered while the bingo player station is in the second game state. That result corresponds to result value V3A in pattern table 500 and is assigned for a game play request if the result controller for the bingo gaming system identifies the pattern P12 for the bingo game play resulting from the game play request entered while bingo player station 603 is in the second game state. This simple example described with reference to FIGS. 4-9 demonstrates that applying different pattern tables for different game states according to the present invention allows game rules to temporarily add various prizes for the bingo game results while retaining the basic result identifying procedure based on patterns achieved for a given player in a bingo game. Numerous different entertaining game states may be defined and applied according to the present invention to enhance player enjoyment and hold the player's interest.

The simple example game described in connection with tables 400 and 500 the game graphics in FIGS. 6 through 9 also provides insight into the nature of result indicator states and their correspondence to game states according to the invention. In particular, it will be noted that the first game state illustrated in FIG. 6 corresponds to a first result indicator state in which bonus indicator 602 is inactive. The second game state illustrated in FIG. 7 corresponds to a second result indicator state in which bonus indicator 602 is active as shown at least by the “BINARY BONUS” symbol. In each case, the respective result indicator state represents some state that is apparent to the player at bingo player station 603 and which indicates to the player some status in the play of the game according to the applicable game rules. In the example, the respective result indicator state affects the result values available for a game play request entered during the corresponding game state. However, this affect on the available result values is not a requirement of the present invention.

The example described in connection with FIGS. 6-9 also provides insight into the nature of result aspects that may be used according to the invention to prompt a change in game state. In the example, it is the assignment of result level 6 in FIG. 4, corresponding to either of result symbol sets S8, S9, or S110 along the payline defined by reel symbol locations 608, 609, and 610 which prompts the change in game state. However, numerous other aspects of a game result may be used to prompt a change in game state. For example, a single set of reel symbols aligned along a payline or a single reel symbol appearing on a game display may prompt a change in game state. Also, the result aspect that prompts a game state change may not be associated with the display of the result itself through a reel-type display or otherwise. In the embodiment described below in connection with FIG. 11 for example, a random event produced in connection with a display of results assigned for a game play request is used as a game state changing aspect of a result.

The example described above in connection with FIGS. 6-9 is also illustrative of the nature of result symbol sets that may be defined according to the invention. It will be noted that all of the result symbol sets shown for pattern table 400 in FIG. 4 define symbols that align along the payline made up of symbol locations 608, 609, and 610 in FIGS. 6-9. The same can be said for all of the result symbol sets shown for pattern table 500 in FIG. 5 except for result symbol sets S11 and S12. Result symbol set S11 defines not only the set of reel symbols that must align along locations 608, 609, and 610, but also defines the stop configuration for bonus indicator 602. Similarly, result symbol set S12 in pattern table 500 defines the set of reel symbols that align along locations 608, 609, and 610, and also defines the stop configuration for bonus indicator 602. The result symbol sets defined for a pattern table within the scope of the invention may not only define combinations of reel stop symbols and graphics external to the reels, but may also define any suitable graphical arrangement that may be used to convey a result to the player through the respective bingo player station.

The process illustrated in FIG. 3 and the example game graphics described in connection with FIGS. 6-9 refer to only a first and second game state. However, two game states are referenced in the above discussion only as a matter of convenience in describing the basic nature and characteristics of the invention. The invention is by no means limited to only a first and second game state, but encompasses implementations that employ many different game states. The game graphics described below in connection with FIGS. 10-14 may each require more than two game states, each game state associated with a particular pattern table and also corresponding to a particular result indicator state displayed at the bingo player station. It should be noted that for game graphics and associated game rules that require three or more game states, the invention encompasses any possible progression through the various game states. That is, the invention is not limited to progressing from a first game state, to a second game state, to a third and highest game state, and then back to the first game state. Also, games that allow different bet levels for a given game play request may use a different pattern table for each bet level and may thus define each bet level as a respective game state. In the case of the game state being dependent upon bet level, the result indicator state displayed at the bingo player station includes an indicator of the bet level.

Regardless of the number of game states that may be required according to the present invention to implement a particular game graphic and a set of rules regarding how the game graphic displays results, it will be apparent that the present invention requires some mechanism for ensuring that the correct game state is selected for each transition in order to properly carry out the game rules. Any suitable system may be used according to the invention in order to ensure that the bingo player station is placed in the proper game state, that is, to ensure that the proper pattern table is used to assign a result for a given game play request at the bingo player station consistent with the result indicator state displayed at the bingo player station.

One preferred form of the present invention employs a data file to maintain information on the current game state in effect at the given bingo player station and to maintain information on the next game state to which the bingo player station will be transitioned given the possible game state changing events. This data file may be referred to as a “game state file” and in one preferred form includes an identifier for each game state together with an identifier for the pattern table which is to be used for game play requests received while the bingo player station is in that particular game state. The pattern table identifier may be referred to as a “game index.” In addition to associating each game state with a respective game index pointing to the pattern table to be applied for that game state, this preferred game state file associates each game state with an indicator for each event that triggers a change in game state together with an indicator of the state to which the bingo player station should be changed in response to that event. For example, each game state may be associated in the game state file with a number of bet level entries with each bet level entry pointing to a game state that is applicable if that bet level is selected by the player at the bingo player station. Also, each game state in the game state file may be associated with a number of result aspect indices where each result aspect index corresponds to an aspect of a result which may be relied upon to prompt a state change at the respective bingo player station.

In some implementations of the present invention, each game state is associated with a pattern table that is distinct from any other pattern table used in the implementation. The distinctiveness between pattern tables may be in terms of result levels, prize distribution, or both. However, distinctiveness between pattern tables is required only if it is desirable or necessary to change the characteristics associated with a game play request in terms of available results, prize distribution, or otherwise. There may also be implementations of the invention in which it is not necessary or desirable to change the characteristics associated with a game play request from one game state to another, and thus it may be desirable to define a game state that uses the same pattern table as another game state. Accordingly, two game states identified in the game state file may refer to the same pattern table via the game index for that pattern table. It is also possible that a game graphic and accompanying game rules may require that the bingo player station in a first game state transitions to a second game state associated with the same pattern table as that associated with the first game state.

Although the game state file represents one preferred arrangement employed by the presentation controller for enabling the presentation controller to navigate through the various game states available for a given game graphic and set of game rules, the invention is not limited to this state tracking arrangement. Other state tracking arrangements may use counters, registers, or other tracking arrangements as may be appropriate for the respective game graphic and game rules.

FIGS. 10 through 14 may be used to describe certain specific applications of the present invention employing multiple game states each corresponding to a respective result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station. It should be noted that the various game graphics described below and elsewhere in this disclosure are in each case ultimately driven by a result in an underlying bingo game which is assigned for a game play request initiated at the respective bingo player station. That is, although a result may be shown by a reel-type display either alone or together with some additional game graphic portion, the result is in fact identified using a pattern achieved in a bingo game for a given game play request and this pattern is used together with a respective pattern table to select the result symbol or symbols to indicate the result to the player.

It should also be noted that the various game graphics described below and others implemented according to the present invention may not employ a one-to-one correspondence between a particular result assigned according to a pattern table and an arrangement of graphic symbols such as reel-type game symbols along a payline of a reel-type display. For example, some implementations of the present invention may show a result awarded for a bingo game play request as a number of “free” spins at the particular bingo player station. The various prizes that may be indicated by these individual free spins may in fact be dictated by a result assigned for a single bingo game play and corresponding bingo game play request. For example, a game graphic may indicate that the player has won ten free spins for a respective game play request initiated by the player at the bingo player station. However, what the player has actually won is some value that will be displayed to the player through a set of ten individual free spins (what appear to the player to be individual plays) at the bingo player station. Continuing with this example, the value that the player has actually won may be 100 credits, and the individual results displayed for the ten free spins will be controlled in a suitable fashion by the presentation controller to display the total win of 100 credits. Some forms of the invention may include one or more result symbol sets (such as set S1 in pattern table 400 of FIG. 4 for example) that define a number of different instances of the game graphic to display the assigned result value to the player. The different instances of the game graphic correspond to the “free spins” and the game graphic that indicates the award of the “free spins.” In the case of a predefined group of instances of the game graphic used to show an assigned result value, the predefined group of instances of the game graphic represents a script that the presentation controller causes the display device or devices of the bingo player station to follow in order to display the assigned result value. In yet other forms of the invention, a result symbol set may be variable in the sense that the actual instances of the game graphic to be used to display the awarded result value are not set but are selected according to some random or other process after the result symbol set is invoked from the respective pattern table.

Referring now to FIG. 10 a game graphic portion 1000 may be used in connection with another display arrangement not shown in the figure. In particular, the other display arrangement for the respective bingo player station may include a reel-type display comprising a set of three mechanical reels or a video generated set of three reels. Although game graphic portion 1000 may be located either above, below, or to the side of the reel-type graphic, one preferred game graphic may place game graphic portion 1000 above the reel-type graphic, displayed by a video monitor in the position of top display 107 shown in bingo player station 100 in FIG. 1.

Game graphic portion 1000 includes representations of three different objects 1001, 1002, and 1003, each associated with a respective path 1004, 1005, and 1006 toward a target 1007. In this particular example, each object comprises a representation of a rocket and the target comprises a representation of a planet. Also, each path 1004, 1005, and 1006 includes a number of stop positions between an initial position of the respective object shown in FIG. 10 and the target 1007. In particular, the path 1004 for rocket 1001 includes five stop positions 1010 whereas path 1005 for object 1002 includes three stop positions 1011, and path 1006 for object 1003 includes seven stop positions 1012.

According to one preferred game using game graphic portion 1000, each respective rocket 1001, 1002, and 1003 is associated with a respective reel of the associated reel-type display (not shown). Any time a designated symbol appears on a payline for a particular reel of the reel-type display, the rocket corresponding to that reel advances one stop position along the respective path toward target 1007. When the appearance of a special symbol on a respective reel causes a particular rocket to reach target 1007, some enhanced award is available to the player. The enhanced award may be a number of free spins at a multiplier value for example, where the multiplier value is represented by the multiplier value shown on the respective rocket reaching target 1007. It will be noted that under this rocket advancing rule, the result aspect for a given game state which prompts the bingo player station to go to another game state includes the presence of the designated symbol on a given reel and payline.

To account for the possibility of enhanced awards based on the multiplier value appearing to be applicable based on the condition of game graphic portion 1000, and to provide a desired distribution for the enhanced awards, different pattern tables may be used for different positions of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along their respective path 1004, 1005, and 1006. At least eight different pattern tables may be used according to the invention to accommodate the enhanced awards available for game graphic portion 1000. Each pattern table corresponds to a respective condition of the final stop position of each path 1004, 1005, and 1006 to target 1007 as either having the respective object at the stop position or not. In this particular embodiment, each of the eight pattern tables correspond to a respective game state and each game state corresponds to a respective result indicator state defined by the location of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 in relation to target 1007. In particular, a first game state may correspond to a result indicator state defined by the each rocket 1001, 1002, and 1003 residing in the start position shown in FIG. 10. A second game state may correspond to a result indicator state in which rocket 1001 is at the respective final stop position 1010 before target 1007 and rockets 1002 and 1003 are each not at their respective last stop position before target 1007. Another game state may correspond to a result indicator state in which rocket 1002 resides at the final stop position 1011 before target 1007 and rockets 1001 and 1003 each do not reside at their respective final stop position before target 1007. The remaining game states each correspond to a result indicator state defined by whether the respective object is at the final stop position before target 1007.

It should be noted here that this example embodiment for a game graphic portion 1000 including a total of eight game states is merely one example of an arrangement according to the invention. Other embodiments of the invention may include more than eight game states. For example, one embodiment of the invention may define a different game state for each potential arrangement of positions of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along their respective path. This embodiment defining a different game state for each arrangement of rocket positions in game graphic portion 1000 is useful in storing game state information for state tracking according to one embodiment of the invention. In this arrangement in which each possible state of rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along their respective path is defined as a separate game state, all of the game states corresponding to a rocket position state in which no enhanced award may be available on the next game play request may correspond to the same pattern table for assigning results.

In an overall game graphic including game graphic portion 1000 shown in FIG. 10 and the corresponding three-reel, reel-type display as described above but not shown in the figure, the reel-type display portion of the overall game graphic may be referred to as a base game or base game graphic. This base game graphic shows results to the player for plays in which one of the enhanced awards is not available. Game graphic portion 1000 may be thought of as a bonus game graphic. It will be noted in this example that the bonus game graphic may be shown on an entirely different graphic display device than the display device showing the base game graphic. In particular, the base game graphic in this example may be shown by a mechanical reel arrangement or a video reel arrangement whereas the bonus game graphic may be shown on a separate video display device. It will also be noted that in this particular embodiment of the invention the bonus game graphic is displayed concurrently with the base game graphic. Finally, in forms the invention employing game graphic portion 1000 to represent a bonus game which provides enhanced awards for certain bonus plays, the completion of the one or more bonus plays may be defined as the reset event that causes the bingo player station to revert back to the first game state. For example, a game using game graphic portion 1000 may be implemented so that the player receives ten “free spins” at the applicable multiplier level when the respective rocket (or combination of rockets) 1001, 1002, or 1003 reaches target 1007. After these ten free spins are completed, the bingo player station may automatically revert back to the first game state in which rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 are in their initial position shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows a game graphic 1100 that may be driven by results in underlying bingo games using various game states according to the present invention. Game graphic 1100 includes a reel-type game display 1101 which includes three reels 1102, 1103, and 1104. In addition to reel-type game display 1101, game graphic 1100 also includes a game graphic portion 1106 made up of a representation of a baseball field. Each base on the baseball diamond includes a runner indicator 1108 that produces a distinctive appearance to indicate the presence of a runner at the base. Game graphic portion 1106 also includes an out indicator field 1109, a run scored indicator field 1110 and a bonus field 1111.

Game graphic 1100 can be produced on a single video display device such as the video display device 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, the reel-type game display 1101 may be made up of a mechanical reel arrangement and a separate video monitor or other suitable display device to the side of the mechanical reel arrangement or elsewhere that may be used to produce game graphic portion 1106.

Regardless of how the reel-type display 1101 and baseball field game graphic portion 1106 are produced at a bingo player station, the following example rules may dictate the behavior of the bingo player station and game graphic 1100. In this illustrative set of rules, if a game play request for a particular play in a game produces a winning result display on the reel-type display 1101, a random baseball event such as a single, double, triple, or home run is generated. If, on the other hand, a game play request results in a non-winning outcome as displayed by reel-type display 1101, an “out” is counted. The random baseball events produced for each winning result, cause base runners to appear at different bases on game graphic portion 1106. However once three outs are tallied, game graphic 1106 is reset by clearing the bases and resetting the “outs” field 1109 to zero. The player wins bonus credits when runs score based on a baseball event occurring and the state of game graphic portion 1106. Preferably, the baseball bonus shown by graphic 1106 is only available when the player places a maximum bet.

The following example is illustrative of how these rules of the game may be applied. Assume that game graphic portion 1106 shows one out in field 1109 and indicators 1108 show runners at second and third base. Assume also that at this state of game graphic portion 1106, the player initiates a game play request at the gaming machine producing the graphic and is assigned a result of that dictates a payline win of 20 credits shown by suitable reel stop symbols according to the paytable for the game. Assume also that the random baseball event generated for this payline win is a double. In this case, the runners at second and third score on the double and the overall value awarded for the game play request is equal to 60 credits. This total amount is made up of the 20 credit value of the payline win plus the two runs scored (in view of the baseball event and the prior state of game graphic portion 1106) times the 20 credit value of the payline win.

Game graphic 1100 and the game rules described above may be driven by bingo game results by applying different pattern tables depending upon the state of game graphic portion 1106. A first game state according to the invention may be defined as the state of game graphic portion 1106 with no runners on base. In this first game state, the condition of no runners on base represents the first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station. A second game state may be defined as game graphic portion 1106 showing a runner on first base. The condition of the first base runner indicator 1108 activated and second and third base runner indicators 1108 inactive represents a second result indicator state displayed by a bingo player station. Other game states are defined by different base runner positions in game graphic portion 1106. Because the potential award values for game play requests made at the bingo player station showing game graphic 1100 vary from one state of game graphic portion 1106 to another, each different game state is associated with a respective pattern table that includes suitable result levels including sufficient result levels to encompass all of the potential results for the given game state encompassing every combination of base runner arrangement and baseball event on a payline win.

It should be noted that the random baseball event may be generated in any suitable fashion either at the bingo player station producing game graphic 1100 or some other component in communication with the bingo player station. In one preferred arrangement, the presentation controller is also responsible for producing the random baseball event. Regardless of which component produces the random baseball event, the event may be produced with a random number generator and a table relating various random numbers or ranges of numbers to some baseball event. In this example arrangement, the random baseball event is generated by first generating a random number and then locating the table entry associated with that random number and reading the baseball event for that table entry. However it should be noted that the invention is not limited to any particular arrangement for producing a random baseball event. Also, baseball events for this example game graphic may be produced in some nonrandom fashion within the scope of the present invention. It will also be noted that the aspect of the result which causes a change in game state in this form of the invention described in connection with FIG. 11 is a combination of the result for the game play plus the random baseball event generated as described above.

FIG. 12 shows yet another example game graphic 1200 that may be employed to display bingo game results according to the present invention. Game graphic 1200 includes a reel-type display 1201 and an additional game graphic portion 1202. In this particular example, the reel-type display 1201 includes five video-simulated reels 1203 and additional game graphic portion 1202 is located to one lateral side of the reel-type display. Additional game graphic portion 1202 includes a graphic representation of a jack-in-the-box 1206. In the particular state of game graphic 1200 shown in FIG. 12, jack-in-the-box 1206 is in a closed state and the label “1×” appears on the front side of the jack-in-the-box to indicate a multiplier value that is potentially available for a play in the game. In this example game graphic 1200, the reel-type display 1201 and additional game graphic portion 1202 may be displayed on a single video monitor. This game graphic could also be produced with a mechanical reel-type display and a separate video display device for displaying the additional game graphic portion. It is also possible that the function of the jack-in-the-box graphic as described below could be implemented with an electro-mechanical device rather than a video monitor.

The method of the present invention may be employed to implement the following game rules relating to game graphic 1200. Starting from an initial game state in which the multiplier value for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206 is 1×, each time a designated symbol is shown when the reels of reel-type display 1201 come to rest to show a result for a play in an underlying bingo game, the jack-in-the-box will be shown to receive one crank on a handle (not visible in this example illustration). If the jack pops out for that crank, the player is awarded a number of free spins and the illustrated multiplier applies to each free spin. However, if the jack does not pop out on that crank, the multiplier value will be shown to increase to a higher value, 2× for example. The next time the designated symbol is shown at a reel symbol location after the reels stop spinning for a play at the bingo player station producing the graphic, the jack-in-the-box representation 1206 receives another crank. If the jack pops out on that crank, the player is awarded a number of free spins and the multiplier then displayed on jack-in-the-box representation 1206 is applied to each free spin. If the jack does not pop out on the crank, the multiplier value is shown to increase again. The process continues until a maximum multiplier value is reached so that further cranks do not increase the multiplier value. At any point at which the jack pops out of the box, the player is awarded free spins at the displayed multiplier value applied to each free spin. After the player plays their free spins, the game reverts back to the initial 1× multiplier condition for the next game play request entered at the bingo player station providing the game graphic.

The present invention employing multiple game states is applicable to this game graphic and game rule combination in that the potential value of the free spin award may vary according to the multiplier value displayed on the jack-in-the-box representation 1206. A first game state according to the invention employs a first pattern table and corresponds to a result indicator state defined by the lowest multiplier value displayed for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206. A second game state using a second pattern table to assign results corresponds to the result indicator state defined by the next higher multiplier value displayed for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206, and so forth for each possible multiplier value. Whether the jack pops out of the box on a given play may be randomly determined by the presentation controller or some other component. Alternatively, whether the jack pops out on a given play may be based on some other aspect of the result in the underlying bingo game.

As in the example shown in FIG. 11, the reel-type display 1201 in FIG. 12 may be considered the base game. The jack-in-the-box display 1206 in FIG. 12 may be considered a bonus game. In the example game graphic 1200 then, the bonus game is not only concurrently displayed with the base game graphic, but may also be displayed with the same display device, for example, a video monitor such as device 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 13 shows another game graphic portion 1300 that may be used with a reel-type display (not shown in FIG. 13) to implement multiple game states according to the present invention. Game graphic portion 1300 is preferably displayed on a video display monitor located at a particular bingo player station. For example, a bingo player station may include or produce a reel-type display in the position of video display device 104 in FIG. 1, and include a video monitor in the position of top display 107 rather than a static display. Game graphic portion 1300 would be generated at that top video monitor. Regardless of specifically how and where game graphic portion 1300 is displayed at the bingo player station, the graphic portion includes an array 1301 of symbol locations 1302, and this array corresponds to the array of reel symbol locations provided by the associated reel-type display. Example graphic portion 1300 includes a three-by-five array of symbol locations 1302 corresponding to the three-by-five array provided by a traditional five reel reel-type display such as reel-type display 1201 shown in FIG. 12. Symbols 1304 in the various symbol locations 1302 appear as gaming chips. These gaming chips may be caused to appear to flip over as described below to reveal various bonus values such as bonus amounts, multipliers, or numbers of free spins. The various symbols 1304 displayed at symbol locations 1302 may thus define various game states according to the present invention.

The rules of a game graphic using a reel-type display and game graphic portion 1300 may specify that under certain conditions associated with the reel-type display, certain of the gaming chips 1304 flip over to reveal a credit amount, a free spin number, or a multiplier value. For example, the presence of a designated reel symbol appearing at a given location on the reel-type display after a spin may cause the gaming chip 1304 at the corresponding location 1302 of array 1301 to flip over and stay in that position until the array 1301 is reset to a base state shown in FIG. 13. The rules may also require that any time the revealed information on two chips match, the player receives that prize, and immediately thereafter, graphic portion 1300 reverts to the base state shown in FIG. 13.

In order to implement these rules, the various states of array 1301 may be defined as different game states according to the present invention in order to account for the enhanced prizes that may be available according to the game graphic rules. For example, if a credit amount of 500 credits is available according to the matching rules for game graphic portion 1300, a pattern table may be used which includes a result level for each result possibility for the reel-type display alone and a result level for each possible combination of result displayed by the reel-type display and array 1301 showing the additional 500 credit award in addition to the award for the reel-type display. The result display state corresponding to this game state is the condition in which one flipped gaming chip in array 1301 shows the 500 credit award.

It will be noted that in this example game graphic employing game graphic portion 1300 and a reel-type display (not shown in FIG. 13), the aspect of the result used to indicate a change in game state is the specified condition causing a state affecting gaming chip to be flipped in display. For example, the game state changing result aspect may be the appearance of the designated reel symbol at a reel symbol location in the reel-type display.

It should also be noted that not all of the bonus amounts that appear to be available through game graphic portion 1300 require a change in the game state of the bingo player station and a different pattern table to be invoked. For example, if a number of free spins are awarded, the value of such free spins may be controlled to coincide with a prize value available in the current pattern table. In this case, the result symbol set selected to show the result will cause the game graphic to be controlled for the free spins. However, even in the case of a prize awarded through free spins, it may be desirable to change game states in order to apply a pattern table that includes a different prize distribution. The present invention encompasses the situation in which the game state is changed at a bingo player station simply to change the prize distribution to be applied for a game play request entered at the bingo player station.

FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic representation of another game graphic 1400 that may be driven by bingo game play results using multiple game states according to the present invention. Game graphic 1400 includes a reel-type display 1401, additional display symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404, and a separate video or alphanumeric display device 1405. Reel-type display 1401 includes three reels or reel representations 1408 which define a single payline through reel symbol locations 1409. This reel-type display 1401 may be a video-generated reel-type display or a mechanical reel display. In the event reel-type display 1401 is generated on a video monitor, the same video monitor may be used to produce symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404. In the event reel-type display 1401 is a mechanical reel display, symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404 may be display glass which may be selectively back-lit to indicate that the symbol is active as will be described below.

Game graphic 1400 may be used in connection with game rules that may apply a multiplier to some subsequent game play request entered at the bingo player station generating the game graphic. For example, the game rules may require that every time a designated symbol appears at a reel symbol location 1409, a respective multiplier is made active for a subsequent game play request. Different designated symbols may correspond to the different multiplier values or a single designated symbol may cause a jump to the next highest multiplier value up to a maximum value. The subsequent game play request may be the next game play request that produces a winning result (as indicated by the text on display device 1405) or the next game play request regardless of the outcome. It is also possible that the subsequent game play request to which the multiplier will apply will be some designated game play request in the future, the tenth game play request for example. It will be noted that the multiplier value to be applied may be shown by activating one of the symbols 1402, 1403, or 1404, or by display device 1405, or both one of the symbols and the display device.

A game following these game rules may be implemented according to the present invention by defining a first game state as that state in which no multiplier is invoked. In this case, the first result indicator state is the state in which none of the symbols 1402, 1403, or 1404 are active and display device 1405 indicates that no multiplier value is applicable. A game play request entered at the bingo player station in this first game state is assigned a result according to a first pattern table. However, when a multiplier value becomes active according to the game rules, the bingo player station is placed in another game state to use a pattern table that accounts for the larger prizes available for the game play request. In the event the multiplier only applies to a given game play request in the future, the change in game state actually occurs just before the game play request to which the multiplier value applies. In any event, the activated multiplier symbol or multiplier value displayed at display device 1405 represents the second result indicator state corresponding to the second game state.

Where the game rules apply the multiplier value to the next play only regardless of whether or not there is a win on the play, the bingo player station switches back to the first game state after the game play request to which the multiplier applies and before the next game play request. Where the game rules require that the multiplier applies to the next win, the bingo player station will remain in the second game state until a winning result is assigned for a game play request and then the bingo player station is returned to the first game state immediately after the game play request for which a winning result is assigned.

A variation on the multiplier arrangement described above may be implemented with just a reel-type game presentation and no additional display to indicate a multiplier value applies. In this variation, the reel-type display starts out in a first game state in which no multiplier value applies. However, when a designated symbol appears on the payline at a respective reel symbol location such as a location 1409 in FIG. 14, that respective reel is locked in place for the next game play request at the bingo player station and the reel lock and displayed symbol represents a second result indicator state indicating that a multiplier value applies to the next game play request. The second game state that applies to this second result indicator state may persist until a winning result is assigned for a game play request or until a second designated symbol appears on the payline, at which point that reel locks in place to correspond to a third game state at which an even higher multiplier value applies to a win. From this third game state, the game transitions back to the first game state upon the assignment of a winning result for a game play request at the third game state. This game is similar to that described in connection with FIG. 14 except in the different result indicator states. In the example of game graphic 1400 shown in FIG. 14, the different result indicator states are represented by an activated symbol and information displayed at display device 1405. In the locking reel variation, the second and third game states correspond to the one and two locked reels respectively, and there may be no other display or symbol showing that a multiplier applies.

The example displays shown in FIGS. 6-14, are shown only as convenient examples for describing the principles of the invention. Many variations on these basic examples may be employed within the scope of the present invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to any particular manner for displaying the results for the game play. It will be appreciated that although the example game graphics all rely at least partially on a reel-type display, other implementations of the invention may display results using non-reel arrangements for showing game results, such as playing card hands and simulated races or other competitions, for example. Furthermore, other forms of the present invention may allow only a single bet level and may not provide different prizes based on different wager/bet levels. Where multiple bet levels are available the invention may still use a single pattern table for each respective play mode, although multiple result values will be associated with each result level, each result value corresponding to a respective bet level. Information on the bet level for a given bingo game play may be used in connection with the pattern table to select the correct result value corresponding to the bet level. Alternatively to a single pattern table with a respective result value for each bet level, each bet level may itself correlate to a respective game state employing a respective pattern table.

It should be noted that restrictions may be placed on bet levels available in game states that are more favorable to the player. In particular, a bingo player station implementing the present invention may be programmed or otherwise operated to prevent a player from increasing their bet level when the bingo player station is switched to a game state that is more favorable to the player. In one arrangement for preventing an increase of bet levels in a more player-favorable game state, the presentation controller may take an increased bet level in a player-favorable game state as a reset event to cause the bingo player station to switch back to the less favorable game state. The player may be warned through a display such as video display 104 in FIG. 2, before switching back to the less favorable game state, and allowed an opportunity to withdraw the increased bet. Alternatively, the bingo player station may simply not accept an input that attempts to increase the bet level in the more player-favorable game state, and/or may lock the bet level in to the bet level in effect at the time of the switch to the more player-favorable game state for all bingo game play requests initiated in the more player-favorable game state.

In forms of the invention implemented through general purpose processing devices such as the devices shown in the example bingo player station 100 of FIG. 2, the various steps described above in connection with FIG. 3 are performed under the control of operational program code. This program code may be stored in any suitable computer readable physical medium such as one or more CDs, DVDs, hard drives, flash drives, magnetic media, or data transmission media for example. One preferred form of the invention executes first game state program code to cause a bingo player station such as player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2 to operate in the first game state in which the result for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned according to the first pattern table. Second game state program code is executed to cause the bingo player station to operate in the second game state in which the result for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned according to the second pattern table, and in which the bingo player station displays the second result indicator state. In this preferred embodiment, game state control program code is executed to cause the bingo player station to switch from the first game state to the second game state, and result display program code is executed for controlling the game graphics to display results at the bingo player station and to display the first and second result indicator states at the bingo player station as appropriate for the game state. This result display program code may operate to control any type of game graphic that may be produced according to the invention, including game graphics that include a mechanical reel-type display and a separate game graphic portion to show various result indicator states. The state control program code is also executed to switch the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to the applicable reset event.

All of this program code may be executed by processor 205 associated with the bingo player station shown in FIG. 2. In this case, processor 205 represents the presentation controller included in the invention. As indicated previously however, the invention is not limited to a presentation controller comprising a general purpose processing device, and is not limited to a presentation controller implemented at the bingo player station. Rather, the functions of the presentation controller described above particularly in connection with FIG. 3, may be performed at a processing device remote from the bingo player station. For example, local area server 200 or central server 201 shown in FIG. 2 may represent the presentation controller according to some preferred forms of the invention. The presentation controller functions may also be split between multiple processing devices within the scope of the present invention.

As discussed above, the present bingo gaming apparatus and method relies on a result controller for identifying a pattern matched in a bingo game to select a result for the player in the bingo game. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular arrangement for the result controller. As discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, the result controller for identifying a bingo pattern for a given bingo game play may be performed by a centralized processing device such as local area server 200 or central server 201. Further details on one preferred system for conducting a bingo game in a network setting with centralized bingo pattern identification are set out in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0152499-A1, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by this reference. Other forms of bingo gaming systems in which the present invention may be used may include a result controller implemented with a processing device at the bingo player station such as bingo player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, processing device 205 at the player station may be programmed or otherwise adapted to match the bingo designations called in the bingo game with the bingo card/card representation for a given bingo game play initiated through the bingo player station, and to identify any resulting pattern of matched locations at the end of the bingo game. Thus, processing device 205 may be employed as the result controller in some implementations of the invention. Regardless of specifically where in the bingo gaming system the pattern identification occurs, this pattern identification may be accomplished in any suitable fashion within the scope of the invention. Computerized or otherwise automated bingo pattern matching arrangements are well known in the field of bingo gaming systems and will not be disclosed here since the operation of such arrangements forms no part of the present invention.

As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, shall be considered exclusionary transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised October 2005), Section 2111.03.

Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).

The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A method including: (a) receiving a first game play request at a bingo player station when the bingo player station is in a first game state, the first game state corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station; (b) assigning a result for the first game play request according to a first pattern table, the first pattern table including a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols; (c) placing the bingo player station in a second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the first game play request, the second game state corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, the second result indicator state being graphically different from the first indicator state; (d) receiving a second game play request at the bingo player station when the bingo player station is in the second game state; and (e) assigning a result for the second game play request according to a second pattern table that includes a number of second result levels with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more second result symbols.
 2. The method of claim 1 further including switching the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to a reset event.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station represents the reset event.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein each assigned result is displayed by a game graphic at the bingo player station and the game graphic includes a base game graphic and also includes a bonus game graphic which is distinct from the base game graphic.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the base game graphic is presented at a first display location at the bingo player station and the bonus game graphic is presented at a second display location at the bingo player station different from the first display location.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the base game graphic includes a reel-type game display.
 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the bonus game graphic is presented concurrently with the base game graphic.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein the bonus game graphic includes at least one graphic element shown traversing a graphic element path.
 9. The method of claim 4 wherein the bonus game graphic includes an array of bonus symbols and wherein a bonus game result characteristic is presented by two or more matching bonus symbols.
 10. The method of claim 1 further including placing the bingo player station in an additional game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the second game play request, the additional game state corresponding to an additional result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station which is graphically different from the first result indicator state, and the second result indicator state.
 11. A bingo gaming apparatus including: (a) a display device located at a bingo player station; (b) a player input device located at the bingo player station; and (c) a presentation controller, the presentation controller for (i) applying a first pattern table to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player station is in a first game state, the first pattern table including a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols, and the first game state corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the display device, (ii) applying a second pattern table to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player station is in a second game state, the second pattern table including a number of second result levels with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more second result symbols, the second game state corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station which is graphically different from the first result indicator state, (iii) switching the bingo player station from the first game state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the game play request initiated when the bingo player station is in the first game state, and for (iv) directing the display device to produce a respective result representation for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device.
 12. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the presentation controller is at least partially implemented with a processing device located remotely from the bingo player station that includes the display device and player input device.
 13. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the presentation controller is at least partially implemented with a processing device located at the bingo player station that includes the display device and player input device.
 14. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the presentation controller is also for switching the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to a reset event.
 15. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 14 wherein one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station represents the reset event.
 16. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein each assigned result is displayed through a base game graphic and a bonus game graphic which is distinct from the base game graphic, and wherein the base game graphic is generated with the display device and the bonus game graphic is displayed with the display device or an additional display device included at the bingo player station.
 17. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 16 wherein the base game graphic includes a reel-type game display.
 18. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 17 wherein the reel-type game display includes at least one mechanical reel.
 19. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 16 wherein the bonus game graphic is displayed at least in part with the additional display device and the additional display device includes a video monitor.
 20. A program product embodied in one or more computer readable media, the program product including: (a) first game state program code executable to cause a bingo player station to operate in a first game state in which the result for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned according to a first pattern table, the first game state corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, and the first pattern table including a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more first result symbols; (b) second game state program code executable to cause the bingo player station to operate in a second game state in which the result for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned according to a second pattern table, the second pattern table including a number of second result levels with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more second result symbols, and the second game state corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, wherein the second result indicator state is graphically different from the first result indicator state; (c) game state control program code executable to cause the bingo player station to switch from the first game state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of a respective result assigned while the bingo player station is operating in the first game state; and (d) result display program code executable for controlling one or more display devices for displaying a respective result indicating game graphic at the bingo player station for each assigned result, and for displaying the first and second result indicator states at the bingo player station.
 21. The program product of claim 20 wherein one display device includes a mechanical reel arrangement and the result display program code is executable for controlling the mechanical reel arrangement.
 22. The program product of claim 20 wherein the result display program code is executable for controlling two or more discrete display devices which together display both a respective result symbol specified by one of the first pattern table and the second pattern table, and a set of one or more result indicator elements which specify one of the first game state and the second game state.
 23. The program product of claim 20 wherein the state control program code switches the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to a reset event made up of one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station. 